The Best Television Shows of the Last Decade
- Thread starter Falcon123
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Haven't watched many modern shows, but recently I started watching Dexter and it's pretty damn good. Though I'm a bit disappointed with season 5 so far (only halfway through it so far), as it's nowhere near as good as season 4 was.
I never thought I'd see a show that I thought could be competition for The Wire when it comes to best show, but for me West Wing comes really, really close.
I'm watching it for the first time right now, I'm just starting season 4. It's incredibly tightly written, it fleshes out characterization without being obvious about it, it adds just enough humor to what's a very serious concept, it straddles the line between drama and melodrama and rarely falls to the wrong side of it, it's never trite, and it has something to say about the world beyond just itself. Like The Wire, it's almost a TV novel-- there are no monster of the week type episodes that just serve as placeholders, the storyline spirals out around itself with the characters growing naturalistically.
And most importantly, it treats its audience as smart and never dumbs down its content, and its research is impeccable. I think sometimes it's too idealistic and not realistic enough, but I think that, too, is part of its core concept. It's saying "this show is operating in the real political world, here is how a presidency *could* work if Americans participated more and demanded more of its government than someone who's "just folks" and doesn't know how to lead". IMO for a network show, it's impeccable.
Past that, I can think of a number of shows I think are good and have a ton of potential, but nothing I'd put up as truly great. I'd love to say Doctor Who, but it has too many throw-away episodes and way too much melodrama (Ten's exit was protracted, self-indulgent, and almost painfully embarrassing, IMO).
I'm watching it for the first time right now, I'm just starting season 4. It's incredibly tightly written, it fleshes out characterization without being obvious about it, it adds just enough humor to what's a very serious concept, it straddles the line between drama and melodrama and rarely falls to the wrong side of it, it's never trite, and it has something to say about the world beyond just itself. Like The Wire, it's almost a TV novel-- there are no monster of the week type episodes that just serve as placeholders, the storyline spirals out around itself with the characters growing naturalistically.
And most importantly, it treats its audience as smart and never dumbs down its content, and its research is impeccable. I think sometimes it's too idealistic and not realistic enough, but I think that, too, is part of its core concept. It's saying "this show is operating in the real political world, here is how a presidency *could* work if Americans participated more and demanded more of its government than someone who's "just folks" and doesn't know how to lead". IMO for a network show, it's impeccable.
Past that, I can think of a number of shows I think are good and have a ton of potential, but nothing I'd put up as truly great. I'd love to say Doctor Who, but it has too many throw-away episodes and way too much melodrama (Ten's exit was protracted, self-indulgent, and almost painfully embarrassing, IMO).
The Wire really stands out as being much better than almost everything else I've ever watched, especially if we're just limited to the last decade. But there are a few shows I can think of that could compete.
Wallander was very good, a very dark, brooding detective series. I've not seen all of the episodes but the ones I have seen were all exceptional, I just wish they'd hurry up and release them all on DVD.
Sherlock was pretty good as well, more comedy/action than Wallander but it was alot of fun. Only three episodes so far but hopefully they'll continue it.
The Thick of It is really funny and really satirical. The best comedy I've seen in the past decade, probably the best I've seen from any decade.
The only other show that springs to mind as really good would be the Shadow Line and that only had 7 episodes and I'm pretty sure it was just a miniseries.
Wallander was very good, a very dark, brooding detective series. I've not seen all of the episodes but the ones I have seen were all exceptional, I just wish they'd hurry up and release them all on DVD.
Sherlock was pretty good as well, more comedy/action than Wallander but it was alot of fun. Only three episodes so far but hopefully they'll continue it.
The Thick of It is really funny and really satirical. The best comedy I've seen in the past decade, probably the best I've seen from any decade.
The only other show that springs to mind as really good would be the Shadow Line and that only had 7 episodes and I'm pretty sure it was just a miniseries.
the wire is the best show i ever seen. i mean 5 seasons of quality acting,writing,and to make this the winner i just need to say:OMAR(if you seen the show you know what i mean).
Ah well it's pretty hard for any type of tv show to beat a good drama, and the Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad are definitively top of the range when it comes to drama. i know you're looking for any tv show but he pretty much nailed the best in my opinion. futurama is a fantastic comedy and there are some class british comedies like peep show and maybe the misfits. great irish comedy shows would be father ted, the it crowd and black books (all brian lenihan)
but again the love for detail in the sopranos or the true to life story telling in the wire along with walter white's and jesse pinkman's completey opposite charcter traits in breaking bad make these some of the best television shows of all time.
Maybe A Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire will join them once we've seen more
but again the love for detail in the sopranos or the true to life story telling in the wire along with walter white's and jesse pinkman's completey opposite charcter traits in breaking bad make these some of the best television shows of all time.
Maybe A Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire will join them once we've seen more
"When you're a spy..."Maxtro said:
That sentence there is the reason why a Burn Notice game would have the best tutorial section ever.
Only shows I watch anymore are Justified on FX and Burn Notice on USA, but I am always open to suggestions
No, you're not, the things I would do to her might just be illegal in some placesThe Virgo said:
Garth Merenghi's Dark Place deserves a top spot on this list. Purely for the intensely terrible storylines. Hilarious show. Sooo underrated :]
Nah mate, Sopranos faded to black, Mad Man is just shit, and the Wire isn't known to me.Falcon123 said:
Best shows were both done my David E. Kelly, I'm talking 'The Practice', 'Boston Legal', which were both shown in the last decade (Ally McBeal narrowly misses out, but its final two years weren't too great either).
Worst shows were done by the evil and menacing, one and only villan, J.J. Abrams, and no, he doesn't deserve me confirming the spelling of his last name.
Besides, last decade was riddled and infested with bullshit reality shows, involving contestents, or law enforcement, such shit should be illegal on television (the weakest link, big brother, survivor, the show where they race, border security, 'bondi rescue' (fucking kill them, please!), airline investigation JUST to name a few).
You want good drama, David E. Kelly has you covered (until 2008, when Boston Legal ended).
I'm happy to provide evidence for 'The Practice', and why its still better than Breaking Bad, despite it being reported as a good show (a show about a drug dealer, or a show about justice and morals, hmm), on the provision, that you'd consider what I have to say about 'The Practice'.